The city of Cusco was the capital of the Incas, and the site of some of the worst atrocities committed by the Spanish. Under the command of Pizarro, the Spanish took hordes of Inca gold, and famously retracted their promise to set Atahualpa, the Inca king free. Today, Cusco is a perfect city in which to stroll and to discover the amazing side streets, with their incredible views and atmosphere.

These Inca ruins are close to the town of Pisac. You can see a temple of the Sun. The small rooms were built to house priests, who attended to the duties of the Inca religion. The Inca built their temples in the most precarious and beautiful of places, often high in the mountains. They charted the movements of the Inca calendar and zodiac.

This is the sacred valley of the Inca that runs from Cusco in an arch. It was here that the Inca farmed and grew their maize and potatoes that fed the empire. It is a well irrigated valley, and the conditions at altitude are excellent for the growth of the crops. The Inca constructed forts and temples to protect it.